CHICAGO – July 11, 2011 — The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the authority on children’s oral health, and Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children (HSHC), the Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), announced today that they have partnered with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the establishment of an elite and unique Advanced Leadership Institute.

For the past six years, the AAPD has partnered with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Ultradent Products, Inc., in providing members with the first institute of its kind among dental and medical organizations. This leading program has successfully graduated over 75 pediatric dentists and corporate partners, and has begun the third cohort of its Leadership Institute Series by welcoming 30 new dentists last December.

The Kellogg School of Management Leadership Institute graduates shared the need for an augmentation of the existing Leadership Institute during AAPD’s 64th Annual Session in May of this year. Inspired by their exemplary experiences, the graduates noted in particular the desire for an advanced leadership program that would dovetail with their recent educational engagement.

According to Dr. John S. Rutkauskas, AAPD CEO, "While discussing this initial concept during our Leadership Institute Alumni Reception last year, we successfully raised more than $500,000 in 30 minutes! First, we received an extremely generous lead gift of

$125,000 by Dr. Jerome B. Miller, which was quickly matched by 30 additional members, as well as a charitable donation from AAPD to help endow this venture opportunity. These gracious actions by our members truly illustrate the benevolence of our profession."

In recognition of this overwhelmingly positive response, both the AAPD and HSHC decided to move forward in selecting a partner that could further shape the leadership qualities of its current and future leaders in pediatric dentistry.

"After careful evaluation, we established a partnership with the preeminent Wharton School to provide our members with a consummate leadership development curriculum," stated Dr. David K. Curtis, President of HSHC. "As a naturally evolving organization, it’s important to move forward with progressive new initiatives that will allow our members to become leading advocates in the fight for children’s oral health. We look forward to our collaboration with the Wharton School."

"The Aresty Institute of Executive Education at Wharton is delighted to forge this partnership with the AAPD," said Rosemary Mesisca Bloser, MBA, Practice Leader, Health Care and Pharmaceuticals. "The Wharton program will build upon the solid foundation of the core curriculum by accelerating leadership and business acumen capabilities of these participants through content and the application of that content in high level projects that will impact the profession and the overall organization. The current and future leaders of AAPD are highly committed individuals working as a team to improve the oral health of our children. Wharton is honored to walk this path with the AAPD as we all navigate health care reform and the transformational changes it will surely bring."

The official launch of the Advanced Leadership Institute is scheduled for January of 2012.